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ADDRESS TO THE PTJBLIO. 



Office National Lincoln Monument Association, 
Springfield, III., Jan. 24, 1868. 

The National Lincoln Monument Association deem it proper at this time, to make the following public statement: 

Abraham Lincoln was murdered on the 14th day of April, 1805. The sentiment of deep and universal grief caused by that 
event, sought expression in various ways; and, among others, in the idea of a Memorial Structure that should forever mark the 
place of his sepulchre, and fitly express the nation's sense of his illustrious character and public services. To this spontaneous 
movement of the public mind at that time, this Association owes its origin. After several preliminary meetings, it was formally or- 
ganized under the provisions of law, on the 11th day of May, 186.5, twenty-seven days after the assassination, and immediiitely 
entered upon the important work committed to its charge. Its numerous appeals for aid were promptly responded to, and contri- 
butions from all parts of the country, especially from soldiers and Sabbath school children, flowed steadily into its treasury ; and 
the Association anticipated the early realization of a sum sufficient to warrant the commencement of the work. But, with the 
lapse of time, the swift procession of great events in the national history, and the inevitable recoil of the public mind from the 
profound depression caused by the first terrible shock — public interest in the enterprise lost its original intensitj', the receipts grad- • 
ually fell ofl' and the bright promise of the first few days was not fulfilled. It had been the earnest desire of the Association to 
commence the Monument as early as the spring of 1800, but, under the influences above stated, the close of that 3'ear found them 
with but 175,000 in their treasury, and it was the unanimous opinion that such a work as they desired, and would be expected to 
build, should not be commenced with so small an amount of funds on hand. 

The contributions up to that time had ail been made by the voluntary action of private individi " sol 

diers and others, in response to the various calls and circulars of the Association. There had been no j ■ ' V^ 

semt>Ty~of mTiTois since the organization of the Association, and, of course, no appropriatior. in rurll)c r:,ii< !■ <■! us pin^n , iiad 
been made by the State. Hence, other States, which had been cordiallj' invited to participate wiihusin the.enterpri-. % hile 
expressing through their chief exei-utives, and otherwise, tlnir warm synipalliy and approval, reasonably enough intimated that 
Illinois herself should first act, after which we were encouraged to believe that they also would do something. 

The Association were quite ready to accept this conditional promise of aid from sister States, because it was in itself reason- 
able, and because the prompt action of the Legislature _of our own State, as soon as it should convene, was not for a moment 
doubted. 

Accordingly, upon the meeting of the General As.sembly of this State, in January, 1807, the Association presented a memorial 
asking for an appropriation from the State Treasury to aid in building the Monument; and, to the honor of Illinois l)e it .-aid, so 
heartily was the appeal appreciated and responded to bj' the representatives of the people of the State which had so honored and 
trusted Abuaiiam Lincoln, and which he, in turn, had so honored and trusted, tliat the very second bill passed by that body last 
winter, appropriated ^50,000 lo the funds of the Association. 

Illinois having thus led the way in making a most generous appropriation towards this tribute of respect to the memory of 
the late President, and thereby satisfied the reivsonable expectations and conditions suggested by other States, the Association anti- 
cipate the early and favorable action of the Legislatures of several other States, especially of those from which cordial assurances 
of interest and .sj-mpathy have been received, and are not without hope of the co-operation of so large a proportion of the Slates 
of the whole Union, as to render the structure that shall be built, in the strictest .sense, a, National Monument — erected by glad 
offerings from every State and Territory of the Republic ; for Lincoln was surely the gift of God, not to Illinois alone, but to the 
Nation and to the age. 



It is proper also to refer apiin to tlie fact that all tiucstions respecting the location of the Moiiiinicnt were long since ileter- 
niineil and settleil in the most satisfactory manner. We have obtained from the city of S|)rin;;ti(ld a perfect title to about six 
acres of most beantifnl irrounils, in ()akrid;;e Cemetery, near tlie city of Sprin^'liekl, wliieli have lieen surveyed and platted by an 
eminent rural enu;iiieer detailed liy the Oovernment for the purpose, anil who prono'uic(>s them susceptible of beiii.g made ecjual in 
■ beauty and attractiveness to any similar sroundsin the United States. On this spot the dust of Lincoln now reposes, in a sub- 
stantial temporary vault creeled for that purpose, within a few yards of which, the great Monument is to stand. Oakridge is 
already connected with the city by a horse railroad, aflbrding ready access at all seasons of the year, and leaving nothing to be de- 
sired in the conveniences and surroundings of the spot chosen. 

Under these circumstances, being mindful tliat nearly three years have elapsed since Lincoln fell, and acUnn\vh'(Iii:inL' iind 
deeply feeling their responsibility to the donors of the funds in ban 1, and to the people of this State and of tlie wl»(de co\intry, for 
the faithful execution of the sacred trusts committe 1 to them, tlie Association conceive that the time for decisive action has come, 
and that they must go forward with the enterprise in liand. 

Accordingly, at a meeting held on the 3nd instant, it was uiiauiniously 

" SeMhvd, Tliat the Association take immediate steps to procure a suitable Design for a National Monument to Ai'.haham 
Lincoln, to cost a sum not exceeding ^200,000." 

At a subsccpient meeting lield on the 9tli instant, it was ordered that an advertisement be published in certain designated 
leading newspapers througliout the United States, inviting the friendly competition of eminent .\iiierican artists, and otl'eringa 
liberal premium for the Design tUat shall liually be adoiited. 

The propo.sals and designs are to be submitted on or before the 14tli day of Ajiril, ISGS, lieini; tlie third anniversary of Lin- 
coln's death ; and the work of construction is to be commenced as soon thereafter as practicable, so that good progress can be 
made during the present year. 

The present available funds of the Association aminnit to iflSM'OU; cou.sisting of :i;H4,000 of cash coutribntions, invested in 
interest bearing Government and State bonds, and on special deposit with Jacob Bunn, Es(|., of this city ; and $50,000 aiipropria- 
ted by the Legislature. The latter amount, under the provisions of the act making the apiiropriation, cannot be u.sed until the 
money now in the hands of the Association is expended in the erection of the Monument, and no interest is therefore accruing 
upon that sum. 

It will thus be seen that about $G(>,000 more will be required to enable the Association to buil<l the coiitein|)lated ^loiiunient ; 
and it is for the purpose of re-enlisliug the interest and efforts of those who have already aided and encouraged the Association, 
and of .securing the active sympathy and co-ojieration of others, that this address is now issued. We have briefly referred to the 
origin of the corporation, the circumstances of its formation, its worthy and patriotic objects, the sacred trusts ccmimitted to it, its 
operations aud results thus far, the cause of delay in beginning the work, the resources now at command, and its purpose soon to 
enter with energy upon the construction of the Monument — thespejDilic work for which it.was created. 

Before the corner stone is laid we ought to have, and we hope to liave, the whole $200,000 in our treasury, so that the work 
may be pushed rapidly forward, without intermission, from its inception to its completion. 

To secure the deficit of $00,000, this appeal is made. It will be the last general call upon the people of the State and nation 
that we propose ever to make. We want $'2II1M)00 for this Monument. We believe that no less a sum will enable us to erect such 
a structure over the mouldering body of Abhaiiam Lincoln as will comport with the lustre of his virtues and renown; the im- 
mortal acts to which he placed his hand; or with the genius, civilization and dignity of the country, the age and the eiioch in 
which he lived. 

But while it is our firm conviction, and \vc arc not yet ready to believe that it is not also the feeling of the American people, 
tliat tlie sum named is not too large, we nevertheless deem it proper to announce that if the $200,000 cannot be raised during the 
next few mouths, we will adopt a jilan that can be executed for a U i-s sum, and do the best we can with the means then at our dis- 
jiosal. For of two things we beg to assure the public, and especially tliose who sincerely wish to honor the name of Li.ncoln: 
Uirst, that a Monument shall be speedily begun ; and seconil, that when begun, it shall be speedily carried forward to completion. 
We are unanimously determined to adopt no Design which we cannot clearly see our way to execute and finish ; we do not intend 
to commence a structure beyond our means, only to leave its inchoate walls to crumble in tlie storms of waiting years. Tlie les- 
sons of derision and reprojtch taught by the miserable monumental failures, at the Federal Capital and elsewhere, shall not be lost 
upon us. We .say this in no spirit of boasting, or of .superior wisi'oin, but only that the friends of our undertaking may clearly 
understand our intentions in tliis respect. The plan chosen shall correspond with our actual resources, and as soon after the lay- 
ing of the corner stone as is compatible with the time required for lie mechanical execution of such a work, we e.^pcct to invite you 
to witness and rejoice over the placing of the top-stone. 

It only remains, then, fi r us to renew our appeal for aid in behalf of this great and jiatriotic enterprise ; and we do most 
earnestly call upon all in this State, and in other States, who love and venerate the name and character of Lincoln, and who ap- 
prove of the proposed mo.le of expressing that veneration and love, to send in their contributions, without delay, to the Hon. Jas. 
II. Beveridge, Springfield, Illinois, the Treasurer of the Association, so that by the 14tli of A]iril next, the whole $200,000 may be 
in hand. It can easily be done if every one whose heart is in sympathy with the object, will do what he can. To all such persons 
we would saj' : Do not wait for others, but act at once — do not wait till you can make a large donation, but forward what you can 
now give, however small the sum may be — the smallest donation, if freely given, is as worthy of record as the largest — the very 
ocean is filled with drops of water. The largest portion of the funds already received has come in the form of nxiny small contri- 
butions. 

We ask the Ladies to help us in this good work. Let but the tithe of the tact ami energy and varied resources displayed by 
them during the war. in behalf of the soldiers of the Republic, be jut forth in behalf of this memorial to the chii'flain who giiideil 



the country safely through the fires of battle and revolution, and the few thousands, for which we wait, would soon he at our dis- 
posal. We therefore invoke their aid. We ask them to form auxiliary soeiet'es, or to adopt any other means that their fertile 
minds and loving hearts ma}' suggest, to .secure donations for this object, and that they forward to our Treasurer the funds that 
may be t-o raised. 

To the S.\Bn.\Tn Schools in the United States we again appeal. To our former invitations, the great army of Sabbath 
School children nobly responded, and the tens of thousands of little mites contributed by them, became, when united, a golden 
stream pouring into our Treasury, more copious in the aggregate, than that flowing from any other one source. When the Monu- 
ment is built, more of its goodly stones will be the gift of little children, than of any other one class of our whole popidatiou. 
Once more we ask you all to remember your dear, dead friend, Abk.\ham Lincoln, and help us to make beautiful and memorable 
the place of his sleeping dust. 

The children of the Public Schools, too, have already done well. Those of far distant California, by giving only a dime 
apiece, have sent us thousands of dollars. Shall not the sehool chil Iren of Illiuoisand other States do as well? Teachers and pu- 
pils of the public schools, we again commend the cause to 3'our loving regard. Let ever)- School District and School in the State 
and Nation be represented in the Monument. * 

The Soldiers and Sailors of the Union will not forget their great leader, who fell with his armor on, just as the day of 
peace and victory was breaking. Thousands of your number have already borne a generous part in this tribute to the illustrious 
dead, and there are tens of thousands more who, we believe, will be glad to do ^a. You bore the burdens which made Lincoln im- 
mortal. You fought his battles and bore high the colors of the Republic. Will you not also bring garlands to his grave; and ofler- 
ings to his memory ? 

To the Colored Popul.ation of the country we wotdd say: We propose to do honor to yonr greatest earthly benefac- 
tor; whoever may cease to care for Arraham Lincoln, ue are persuaded that Ids name will ever be green in i/otir hearts. We 
J acknowledge the receipt of very liberal donotious from j'ou already. IMay we not expect still gn.iter? AVe arc not sure but that if 
I the subject of this IMonument were properly presented to your people throvighout the nation, that they would not insist upou tak- 
' ing the whole contract into their hands. Let us hear from you again, and often, till the deficit is made up. 

But we must not prolong this address. To all the various Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce ; to the various 
Lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, and Good Templars throughout the country; to all Literary, Religious, and Benevolent Asso- 
ciations in the land ; to the Churches of all denominations, everywhere ; to every Lidividual who reveres the name of Abrahaji 
Lincoln — to you, one and all, we come with this our last and most earnest apiieal for prompt and generous contributions for the 
I National Lincoln Monument. Whether the structure shall be truly grand and worthy or not, still we believe that sage and seer, 
' the good and true of every land and clime, will come to muse and pray beneath its shade. But we would that art and genius 
-» should pour their choicest treasures upon the work, whatever form it may assume, and that more than classic grace and beauty 
jl should breathe sulilimest inspiration upon if, and make it glorious — for, while it guards the dust of Lincoln, its grander mission 
shall be to tell our children and the world, from age to age, how priceless are the blcssing.s, and how immortal the principles of 
Human Liberty. 

RICHARD J. 0C4LESBY, 
ORLIN H. MINER, 
JOHN T. STUART, 
JESSE K. DUBOIS, 
O. M. H.VTCH, 
JOHN WILLIAMS, 
.JACOB BUNN, 
SHARON TYNDALE, 
NEWTON BATEM.VN, 

S. H. TREAT, 

JAMES C. CONKLING, ' 
S. H. MELVIN, 
JAS. H. BEVERIDGE, 
THOAIAS J. DENNIS, 
DAVID L PHILLIPS. 



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